Tide and wave power.



No. 729,629. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

F. MERZIGER. TIDE AND WAVE POWER.

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NiTED STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

ATENT tries.

TIDE AND WAVE POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,629, dated June 2,1903.

Application filed February 5, 1902. Serial No. 92,646- (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ .MERZIGER, a subject of the German Emperor,residing at Trier, in the Rhineland, Prussia, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements "in Tide and Wave Power, of whichthe following is a specification.

The present invention relates to driving apparatus for power-shafts inwhich the driving-power is derived from the movements of a boat causedby the ebb and flow of the tide, the roll of the sea, and the wind. 1

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevationof mechanism embodying oneform of my invention. Fig. 2 is a like side elevation of mechanismembodying an alternative form thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail; Fig. 4., anend view of the boat with laterally-outsetting leveragecheeks sectionedto show their conformation; and Fig. 5 is a top plan view illustrating amethod of anchoring the boat, permitting its position to beautomatically altered while still fast to its moorings.

The two ends of a rope, chain, or the like .9, passing over and securedto a pulley fixed to the shaft w to be driven, are fastened to asuitably-shaped boat a, Figs. 1 and 2, furnished with a wave-resistingcontrivance, which boat is so moored that its position can easily bealtered. The boat mustbe moored in such a way that it can rock freely upand down and from stem to stern,'and vice versa,

and so that it can be placed as nearly as pos-f sible at right angles tothe approaching waves. This is effected by ramming in posts a by theside of the boat and providing them with rings o whichare connected withthe boat by means of ropes d or the like. These ropes are kepthorizontal by means of floats a and by hauling in one and paying outanother of the ropes the position of the boat can be changed as desired.The rope s, Fig. 1, is passed over the rollers 19, and a spring f isattached to the pulley t, to which pulley the rope s is fastened, thesaid pulley being situated on an arm i on the boat, hinged at i to flexwith the stress of the tension, whereby the said rope is always kepttaut. A weight 9 may also be hung onto the spring f to increase thetension. When the boat is moved, as it will be, by the ebb and flow ofthe tide, by the rolling of the waves, and by fected in the manner shownin Fig. 2.

cal axis like a capstan.

feet, the boat may also be provided with latthe wind, one end or theother of the rope s is pulled, the'pulley, and with it the shaft 10,

both mounted on a fixed support, being thus turned in one direction orthe other.

The transmission to the shaft w of the energy imparted to the boat a canalso be .ef I11 this case a frame or block 0, which carries two smallrollers (Z, (see Fig. 3,) is secured at each end to the endless rope s,which rope passes over two tension-rollers g and over a pulley situatedon the shaft w to be driven. Between these two small rollers lies a polee, fastened to the boat. The up and down movements of the said boat,which are followed by the said pole, cause the block 0 to rise and fall,the rope, chain, or the like .9 being thus moved one way or the other,thereby turning the pulley, and with it the shaft '10, in thecorresponding direction. The boat has sufiicient ballast to enable italways to right itself.

For the purpose of transmitting the force of the wind, a sail n, Fig. 2,is provided at each end of the boat, only one of which, and that inaccordance with the direction of the wind, is used at any given time.This sail is located 011 an axle 7c, borne by the bearingblock Z, andconsists of a frame covered with sail-cloth,which frame can be directedagainst winds blowing from the sides by rotating the block Z, and canlikewise be coupled and uncoupled, so as to put it in or out ofoperation. In order to render it possible to adjust the sail inaccordance with the direction of the wind, the bearing-block and, infact, the whole support or stand are rotatable about a verti- Toincrease the eferal projecting checks or ledges m. (Shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 4, Fig. 4 being a cross-section.) These cheeks or led ge s,which runright around the boat above the water-Line and are undercupped, act aslevers when awave gets beneath them and increase the power of the roll,and they can be easily removed or interchanged, so that their width,projection, and shape can be altered.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 several boats can ofcourse be adapted to act on the driving-rope in unison.

The oscillatory movementsof the shaft w are converted into a uniformrotary movement by means of suitable gearing.

' In the arrangements hereinbefore described the boat is adjustedaccording to the direction of wind and waves by hand. This can, however,be done automatically, and Fig. 5 gives a plan view of a form ofconstruction for the purpose, by way of example. The boat a,furnishedwith lateral leverage-cheeks, as mentioned above, is fastened in asuitable manner to a floating frame r. The pole e is in this case passedthrough an oscillatory bearing 0, coincident with the axis of the curvedbeam 19, to transmit the movements of the boat to the driving-rope orthe like connected thereto. connected with the boat a, lies up againstthe curved guide-beam p, which is ring-connected to several posts 13,rammed in for the purpose about a vertical aXle i, always adjusts itselfto the direction of the waves and transmits In this arrangement theframe 0 its movements through the tiller t and link connection 1; to theframe 1' and the boat a, connected with the frame. The said frame 0*when thus moved glides along the beam 19, and to reduce the frictionguide-rollers as are provided.

Having now fully described inyinvention, what I desire to claim andsecure by Letters Patent is In apparatus for utilizing tide and wavepower, the combination of a boat, a floating frame surrounding it and towhich it is fiexi bly connected, a semicircular floating guidebeammoored to piles so as to rise and fall therealong, a connection betweensaid guidebeam and frame, holding the latter to the beam and permittin git to travel therearound as a track.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANZ BIERZIGER.

\Vitnesses:

JOH'ANN XVEL ER, CARL SCHMITT.

